Accidental Surrogate for Alpha

#Chapter 474 Awake

Ella

I’m groggy, a few hours later, when I wake up because I honestly haven’t gotten much sleep. But still, I’m instantly aware that I’m awake because something in my body is…different.

s my eyes crack open, I have absolutely no idea what it is, and no real interest in finding out. Because nothing feels wrong or off…just… different…

So, I yawn and snuggle my body back against my naked mate, my spine pressed to his warm stomach. Sinclair gives a deep, sleepy little growl as he tightens his arm around me, holding me close even as he sleeps. I smile at this, happiness sweeping through me as I think about how lovely it is to have a mate that holds me and protects me even when he’s mostly unconscious.

And he’s so warm, and the bed is so soft, and the sheets are so smooth under my bare skin that I almost…

Almost fall back asleep…

But then? My eyes suddenly fly open.

Because there is…there is something new within me.

As I start to put the pieces together, I am instantly, starkly awake – and so is Rafe, I realize, as I peer through the dark over the side of the bed. My sweet baby is peering at me curiously through the slats of his crib – almost as if he can feel it too

This new…new thing within me, a bond that wasn’t there hours ago – but which is there now, just a tiny silver thread of something new

My hands fly to my mouth and my eyes instantly fill with tears because even though I didn’t experience this with Rafe – my wolf wasn’t awake then, after all, to help me feel it – I suddenly know precisely what it is.

My voice is shaky as I breathe the word, hardly daring to voice it.

“…baby – ”

Rafe burbles something, smiling at me and leaning forward, grabbing the edges of his crib, trying to pull himself up so that he can be closer – almost like he knows it too –

And suddenly I’m laughing – the sound bubbling out of me, rich with joy. “Baby!” I say again, sitting up in a flash.

murmurs, his voice foggy with sleep, his had slipping to my waist as I spin to him, pushing him onto his back and throwing a leg

almost in pieces because of it, completely unable to contain

up at me, confused – worried but one look at my thrilled

as I lean forward. “Don’t

for a second – “Ella,”

go wide and

little so that I’m sitting in his lap, his arms going tight around me as he stares down into my face. “Oh my god,” he murmurs, still shocked, still feeling it

throwing my hands in the air above

his eyes suddenly flooding with tears as a mystified

against my neck and takes a few shaky, happy breaths, passing all of

and sudden anxiety, and joy, and pride, and a thrilled

mine, grinning at him with abandon and wiping away his shocked and happy tears. “A little baby, Dominic,” I murmur, beaming into his face. “A brand new

murmurs, staring at me like I’m a marvel as he sniffs his tears away, still laughing a little in shock. He pulls away from me just a little bit, looking down at my stomach almost like he will see a

my own joy down the bond. Because this moment – I’ve been waiting for it my whole

love in his heart, holding me close and

he says, his voice eager and

and a little anxious – is the baby all

says, loosing a deep breath and draping my arms lightly around his neck before I close my eyes. I feel Sinclair connect to me down our bond, and then together we turn to the little silver bond that runs between both of us, just as Rafe’s bond does so slim, so tenuous

feel Sinclair move forward to it, almost as if he puts a mental finger out and

a glowing rush, I suddenly

but also has a line of sweetness and determination within

my eyes they’re filled with tears and my lower lip is

know all this?” I ask quietly, completely overwhelmed.

Slowly, Sinclair nods.

ask, smacking him on the shoulder and

to be jealous,” he murmurs, “which you definitely would have

the point as tears slip down my cheeks, as I look down at my flat belly and press a hand over it where she exists, where she’ll grow. “She’s already…like the start of a